CALUMET -- Mushing is a fast moving, action-packed sport that leaves you wanting more. And speaking of more, I wanted to see what it was like to have a team of dogs pull me across the snow.
I enlisted the help of Jerry Trudell. He has been a musher for the past seven years. Now, about that "team of dogs" I spoke about earlier...Jerry wanted me to start off slow, so he hooked up Magee and Ria to the sled.
Before the ride, there were a few things I had to learn.
"The next rule is, never let go of the sled because they'll take off. Just because they're stopped, they won't stay stopped. They'll take off," said Trudell.
I also had to learn how to break.
"If you need to stop them, you'll use the claw break. It has bungees holding it up. This is a stainless steel break with carbide tips with two points on the bottom that will be able to dig into the trail," Trudell said.
Once I had the basics, it was time to try it out, but it took some time to get the dogs to move. Jerry says it is because his dogs do not race in doubles, and they were waiting for the rest of the team to join them.
With a little help from Jerry, both dogs started down the trail. It was definitely a fun experience. I can cross dog sledding off my U.P. bucket list!
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC